Spring-trap.



A. R. MEBANE.

SPRING TRAP.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG.11, 1913.

1,077,850, 4 Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON n c ALEXANDER R. MEBANE, 0F HICKORY FLAT, MISSISSIPPI.

SPRING-TRAP.

Specification of Letters ratent.

Application filed August 11,1913. Serial No. 754,197.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER It. Mnnlma, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hickory Flat, in the county of Benton and State of Mississippi, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spring,- Traps, of which the following is a specification. r

This invention has reference to spring traps, and it proposes, briefly, an improved implement of the general character indicated which may be employed with equal facility for catching both fish and small animals, the improvements in question relating more particularly to the trigger or analogous device for holding the impalingjaws in expanded position, and to the means for tripping the same when the bait is seized.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of the implement in set and sprung positions, respectively, the implement being shown as utilized as a fish-hook.

The improved implement comprises, primarily, the following main parts or devices, l

viz-:-a pair of impaling jaws, a. support by which said jaws are carried, a trigger for holding the jaws in expanded position, and a trip for said trigger.

The aws l and 2 are formed from a single strip of spring wire, the central portion 3 of which is coiled, as shown, so as'to exert a torsion action upon the jaws and cause the same to tend to move inwardly or to ward each other, the jaws themselves being curved slightly outward and having barbed, iii-bent terminals or impaling prongs at. The support which carries thesezjaws is here shown as constituted by a: rod: 5 which passes vertically between the upper ends of the jaws and, also, between the central convolutions of spring 3, and is attached to said spring in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by a pin-and-washer 6, or like, connection, which engages the tops of the con volutions. At its upper end, the supporting rod is provided with an eye 7, by which it may be secured to the line. To hold the jaws in expanded, or operative position, the aforementioned trigger is provided, and this device preferably consists, as shown,

through rod 5 adjacent its lower end, the

lower opening 13 being long enough to per- 'mit an appreciable pivotal movement of arm 9. The inter-engagement of the two arms is produced, in the presentinstance, by providing. an opening 14 in arm'9', adjacent its finger 11, for the reception of the finger 10 on arm, 8', such engagement being maintained by the tension of the jaws. These fingers 10' and 11 also serve to prevent the complete disengagement of their respective arms from rod5.

The trap is sprung by releasing finger 10 from engagement opening 14,,and this 1s preferably eftected by forcing. arm 9' to swing downward, such movement belng pro,-

1 duced throu h the a 'enc" 0f a device w hich .P t performs the combined functions of a trip and a bait holder. In the construction illustrated, the aforesaid device is made from a single strand of wire 15 which is loosely engaged at. its'upper endwith rod 5 and intermediate its ends with arm 9, being pro videdfor that purpose with eyes 16 and 17 through which the parts in question loosely pass. At the lower end of this wire is ar- 5 ranged the hooked bait holder IS, the form Zof such part depending upon the use to i which the implement is to be put in the present instance, the holder consists of a suitably feathered or bearded fly The manner in which the trap is sprung 1S believed to be apparent from the foregoing, and, accor 'ingly, no explanation thereof is deemed necessary beyond the "statement that when the bait holder is seized by the fish, the pull exerted thereon will cause a downward swinging movement of arm 9, which will result in the release of finger 10 from opening lat, whereupon,

Patented Nov, 4, 1913, V

with; of atrigger for holding the jaws in.

expanded position comprising a pair of members carried by said jaws for releasable engagement with each other; a supporting rod with which said jaws are engaged provided with guides for said members; and a trip connected with one of said members, for releasing the same from such engagement, to spring the trap.

2. In a trap of the character specified, the combination, with a pair of cooperating jaws, and a closing spring connected therewith; of a. trigger for holding the jaws in expanded position comprising a pair of members carried by said jaws for releasable engagement with each other; a supporting rod with which said jaws are engaged provided with a pair of guide openings for the extension of said members therethrough; and a trip connected with one of said members for releasing the same from such engagement, to spring the trap.

3. In a trap of the character specified, the

combination, with a pair of cooperating jaws, and a closing spring connected therewith; of a trigger comprising a pair of members carried by said jaws, one of said members having an opening, and the other member having a finger for releasable engagement in said opening, to hold said jawsin expanded position; and means for releasing said finger from such engagement, to spring the trap.

4. In a trap of the character specified, the combination, with a pair of cooperating jaws, and a closing spring connected therewith; of a trigger comprising a'pair of arms pivoted at their outer ends to said aws and having their inner ends extending past each other and provided with means for releasably engaging each other, to hold said jaws in expanded position; and atrip connected with one of said arms for swinging the same in one direction, to release it from such engagement and spring the trap.

5. In a trap of the character specified, the

combination, with a pair of cooperating jaws, and a closing spring connected therewith; of a trigger comprising a pair of arms pivoted at the outer ends to said jaws and having their inner ends extending past each other, one of said arms being provided adjacent its inner end with an opening, and the other arm with a finger releasably engaged. therein; and a trip connected with one of said arms for swinging the same in one direction, to release said finger from such engagement and spring the trap.

6. In a trap of the character specified, the combination, with a pair of cooperating jaws, and a closing spring connected therewith; of a trigger comprising a pair of arms pivoted at their outer ends to said jaws and having their inner ends extending past each other, one of said arms being provided adjacent its inner end with .an opening, and the other arm with a finger releasably engaged therein; a supporting rod by which said jaws are carried provided with guides for the reception of said arms; and a trip connected with one of said arms for swinging the same in one direction, to release said finger from such engagement and spring the trap.

7. In a trap of the character specified, the combination, with a pair of cooperating jaws, and a closing spring connected therewith; of a trigger comprising a pair of arms pivoted at their outer ends to said jaws and having their inner ends extending past each other, one of. said arms being provided adjacent its inner end with an opening, and the other arm with a finger releasably engaged therein; a supporting rod by which said jaws are carried provided with a pair of guide openings for the extension of said arms therethrough; and a trip connected with one of said arms for swinging the same in one direction, to release said finger from such engagement and spring the trap.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of subscribing witnesses.

ALEXANDER R. MEBANE.

IVitnesses J. T. ABSTON, Jr., W. W. Ross, 'W. M. MATTHnws.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ZPatents,

Washington, D. G. 

